Spooner Council approves consent agenda, accepts financial report and hears police and library updates

The Spooner City Council approved its consent agenda on Jan. 7, accepting routine administrative items and committee recommendations. The consent agenda included acceptance of minutes from Dec. 3, 2024; approval of monthly payables; 2024 utility write-offs totaling $6,540.48; and approval of a Well #5 maintenance/rehab proposal for Municipal Well & Pump in the amount of $47,415.00. The council also accepted a DNR Urban Forestry grant, confirmed a transit committee appointment for the city, and approved College Street Park as the preferred pickleball-court location and permission to pursue grant funding.

Item k, a planning commission confirmation that uses permitted in R-1 are permitted in commercial and industrial zones, was discussed and approved after clarification from Plan Commission representatives. The minutes record that current homes in those zones are grandfathered and that the Plan Commission confirmed the interpretation of R-1 regulations.

On finance, the council accepted the November 2024 financial report on a motion recorded as Parker/Oja. In the Chief’s report, the police department said it received a grant to purchase a new PBT machine, reported two part-time officer resignations (due to promotions at other agencies), noted that a motor failure in squad 305 will be covered by warranty, and said OWI cases rose over the previous month; the department also assisted on a now-unfounded bomb threat at Shell Lake School and responded to a vehicle pursuit over New Year’s that was not completed. Minutes record "Total contacts and cases = 994." The library liaison reported strong programs and that staff await grant news.

The meeting adjourned at 5:44 p.m.